Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 49: The Hydra

Episode 49: The Hydra

“([Compact Shoot], [Compact Shoot], [Compact Shoot]…)”

From atop a tree near the swamp, I fired explosive arrows in rapid succession at the Hydra. Each time the arrowheads burst, scales were torn off, and flesh and bl00d splattered. But for the Hydra’s massive body, these were little more than scratches. 

All five of its heads turned toward me simultaneously, closing the distance in an instant.

“(Fast!)”

The Hydra surged through the swamp like a speedboat. I kept hitting it since it was coming straight at me, but if it started dodging, it would be hard to land a shot.

“Hissshuaa!”

“([Jump]!)”

One of the heads spat out poison. It was the [Skill: Muddy Spit]. I leapt to avoid the fast-approaching toxic liquid. The poison struck the tree I had been standing on moments earlier. The tree shuddered slightly from the impact. And then, as if drained of life, it quickly withered. That was the power of the poison.

The plants in this area were supposed to have high resistance to toxins, but it seemed the Hydra’s abilities were on a different level. I had to avoid getting hit.

“([Frenzied Charge]!)”

I darted into the forest, away from the Hydra. I stopped firing as soon as I got off the tree. The Hydra, now out of the swamp, barreled through the trees, knocking them over as it chased after me. Even with my [Flee] skill, it was faster than me. The gap between us was gradually closing. Still, as long as I could get out of the poisoned forest, it would be fine. The [Dominion]’s power was stronger in areas where it had taken root, so I needed to avoid that.

Eventually, I made it into a regular part of the forest. But by then, the distance between us had shrunk significantly. One of its heads finally caught up, lunging to swallow me whole—

“([Aerial Jump]! [Replicant Form: Mimic]! [Heavy Slash]!)”

I stepped into the air, spinning around 180 degrees. Using the counterforce from [Receiving] and the combined buffs from various [Skills], I moved through the air at a speed several times faster than normal. As I streaked past one of the Hydra’s gaping jaws, I slashed at its neck with a crimson spear.

“”“Biaaaaa!”””

Even as the Hydra screamed, I didn’t let my guard down. Just as I prepared to launch a follow-up attack from behind, something purple flashed across my vision.

“(Gah!)”

I was sent flying by a powerful blow. The Hydra had swatted me with its tail. Its average |Status| were around 600, and it didn’t have any [Skills] that could penetrate my defenses, so I was unharmed. But the surrounding trees were fanned out in a wave of destruction. That tail strike alone carried ridiculous power.

“(That’s what makes it a Sovereign Beast!)”

I quickly pulled out my bow and fired using [Shoot]. Thanks to the differences in [Weapon Skills] and the increased number of [Consecutive Hits], this arrow hit harder than the initial ones. Even so, for the Hydra, it was still just a scratch. It continued to charge at me without hesitation.

“(But it looks like that spear strike had an effect.)”

Four of its heads reared up menacingly, but the fifth one was curled up. It was a strange sight—the other heads were about as high as a house’s roof, while one drooped awkwardly, almost comically.

“(No time for silly thoughts now!)”

It seemed the Hydra had gotten serious after suffering that deep wound. It now attacked with greater ferocity, all four heads baring their fangs. As a Sovereign Beast, its speed was multiplied fourfold, giving it an overwhelming advantage in sheer number of attacks. Moreover, with the [Skill: Shared Consciousness], its heads coordinated perfectly with each other.

The onslaught was so intense that I had no room to counterattack. In the midst of dodging for my life, I finally made a mistake, and one of the Hydra’s fangs managed to strike me.

“(Yes! The [Hundred Poison Fang] is blocked by Toughness!)”

I mentally pumped my fist as I saw the fang stop at the surface of my skin. [Hundred Poison Fang] was a [Skill] that infused the victim with a variety of poisons through its bite. However, unlike liquid poison, the fangs couldn’t pierce my body, so it seemed I was immune to it.

“([Lightning Strike]!)”

I released a bolt of lightning into the mouth that had bitten me. While it didn’t do much to the Sovereign Beast, it weakened its jaw just enough for me to slip free. I quickly jumped away.

“”“Hissshuaa!”””

“(Sorry, but I’m not sticking around for that!)”

I hastily leaped back. Just as I did, five streams of poison splattered the spot I had been moments earlier. I had considered retreating into the mouth of the Hydra that had bitten me, but after seeing poison welling up in its throat, I thought better of it.

“(The wound hasn’t healed yet, but it can still spit poison…)”

As I fled from the Hydra, I processed the information I’d gathered. All five of its heads had attacked me earlier, including the one I had slashed with my crimson spear.

The healing disruption from the crimson spear was still in effect, so the Hydra hadn’t recovered enough for close combat yet. But now there was one more thing to worry about.

“(Ah, this isn’t going to be easy… [Replicant Form: Mimic]!)”

As it ran, the Hydra began spewing poison. I dodged using [Jump] and [Instant Shift], then created two chain sickles to aid my movement. Wrapping the chains around trees or hooking them onto branches, I maneuvered at high speed with unpredictable movements to evade the poison.

“(Even with this, I’m barely keeping up!)”

But I couldn’t shake the Hydra. It chased me through the trees as if there were no obstacles in its way, staying right behind me, close enough to strike with its fangs. The attacks came frequently, but so far, I managed to dodge them by a hair’s breadth.

Frustrated, the Hydra seemed to decide on using a more powerful technique. The |Mana| in its five heads began to surge rapidly. In the next moment, the [Breath of Poison Fog] was about to be unleashed—

“(I’ve been waiting for this moment! [Heavy Shoot]!)”

Just as its mouths opened wide, I fired an explosive arrow straight into one of them.